Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) warned against unfolding amid the debate over the oil and gas embargo on Russia over the war in Ukraine. “Anyone who does not need Russian gas can demand sanctions,” said Nehammer on Friday night in Brussels. Countries like Austria that depend on it cannot do this, so creativity and sanctions are needed. In its summit declaration, the EU accused Russia of war crimes.
As Austrian Chancellor, “my first interest is to ensure energy security for Austrian citizens,” Nehammer emphasized to journalists in Brussels. Austria is dependent on Russian gas, “we want to get out of this dependency.” But it takes time, a “decent plan” and no “excessive emotions that threaten our energy security,” said Nehammer.
US President Joe Biden also attended the EU summit of 27 heads of state and government. The US wants to tighten punitive measures against Russia, and EU countries are arguing over the Russian energy embargo. While Germany and Austria categorically rule it out, the Baltic states in particular are putting pressure on it.
“Many ideas are now needed to further tighten sanctions, to further weaken the strength of the Russian army, to achieve a ceasefire and finally to establish a peace for the people that will allow them to leave the cities” and humanitarian aid to obtain, Nehammer said.
The chancellor said, inter alia, about European components that are used in Russian types of weapons and aircraft. Reducing them would also reduce the “strength” of the Russians, explained Nehammer. According to the chancellor, the sanctions are still subject to Friday’s assessments. “What other changes could be made to tighten the sanctions regime?”
Sanctions against Russia are already “massive” – assured the chancellor. “All of Europe is working towards independence from Russian gas”, which means that “in the future of the Russian Federation there will be a structurally lack of large revenues.”
The European Union accused Russia of committing war crimes in Ukraine. According to a statement published at the EU summit in Brussels in the early morning of Friday, Russia is attacking civilians and attacks, inter alia, hospitals, schools and shelters. “These war crimes must stop immediately.” War crimes are violations of international law that can be brought before the International Criminal Court. War crimes include the deliberate killing and starvation of civilians, obstruction of humanitarian aid, and the use of nuclear or chemical weapons.
The final declaration of the current summit now states that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is in gross violation of international law and is leading to massive deaths and injuries to the civilian population. The responsible persons and their shareholders would be held liable in accordance with international law.
Due to the huge influx of refugees from Ukraine, the EU also swears by its unity in dealing with refugees. We appreciate all the efforts that have already been made to accommodate the people. At the same time, all Member States are urged to intensify their efforts “in an enduring spirit of unity and solidarity”. The European Commission should take all necessary steps to support these efforts.
Asylum and migration policy has been the cause of heated disputes among EU countries for years. The crux of the matter is the distribution of those seeking protection between the Member States. According to the UN refugee agency, around 3.7 million of the more than 44 million Ukrainians have left Ukraine since the beginning of the war. Over 2 million refugees came to Poland alone.
In their declaration, EU countries also called on the European Commission to present a proposal for a further structure of financial support for host countries.
In addition, it was decided to establish a solidarity fund for financial support for Ukraine. In the summit declaration, we read: “Due to the destruction and huge losses for Ukraine caused by Russia’s military aggression, the European Union is obliged to assist the Ukrainian government in its urgent need, and after the end of the Russian attack for democratic reconstruction, to support Ukraine.”
A declaration conference will be organized in due course to raise funds for the fund. Moreover, international partners are invited to participate in the fund’s development.
The fund is initially intended to ensure the functioning of the authorities and the continuation of defense activities against Russia, as well as emergency assistance. In the longer term, huge investments to rebuild the economy could then be financed in order to anchor Ukraine economically in the West.